Automatic binder for hay balers



Sept, ,8, 11953 A w. o. POPE AUTOMATIC BINDER FOR HAY vBLERS F1-ed' Nov.- 21, 195o 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Spt. 8, 1953 w.` o. PoPE 2,651,252

AUTOMATIC BINDER Foa HAY musas l Filed Nov. 21, 195o 5 sheets-sneet 2 2 H* `I I' Hlm im INVENTOR WJDQ/zae v ATTORNEY,

Sept s. I953 w. o. POPE 2,651,252 AUTOMATIC BINDER -FR HAY BAQERS Filed Ner. 21, 195o -5 sneetssneet 3 ATTORNEY Sept. 8, 1953 w o, POPE 2,651,252 AUTOMATIC BINDER FOR HAY BALERS Filed Nov. 21, 1950 5 Sheets-SheetA O3 Us u] I Ul;- 'hl a ll I vl l r1 n 5 l s' INVENTOR N WQPQ/ve ATTORNEY Sept. 8, 1953 -w. o. POPE AUTOMATIC BINDER Foa YHAY BALERs 5 Sheets-"Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 21, 195o INVENTOR v ATTORNEYy Patented Sept. 81, 1953 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC BINDER FOR HAY BALERS William 0. Pope, Greenfield, Ind. Application November 21,1950, Serial N o. 196,741

' c claims. (c1. 10o-4) This invention relates to balers such as are used to produce bales of hay and other materials, such lbales being bound around with twine, rope or other flexible brous strands.

. More particularly the invention relates to an automobile bale binder attachment for hay balers.

One important object of this invention is to provide a novel device capable of being applied to a horizontal hay baler of standard type to eect binding of twine around a bale during its formation.

Another important object of the invention is to provide novel means to hold twine in bale binding manner in such position for a suitable knotting of the twine.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an attachment with novel means controlling the sizing of the bale being produced.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a novel -attachment for a hay :baler wherein the attachment parts will operate in timed relation to the bale forming elements of the hay baler to which the attachment is applied.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel attachment for hay balers wherein the attachment is arranged with means to prevent injury of the operator of the baler.

With the above and other objects in view as will be presently apparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel detail-s of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings and particularly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and:

Figure l is a fragmentary plan view of a hay baler as applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing certain parts of the attachment which are located on the right or fly-wheel side of the baler.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of other parts of the device located on the left side of the baler.

Figure 4 is a perspective View of a certain latching device used herein.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a form of vbracket used in a certain part of this' invention.

Figure 6 is a perspective View of a rocking lever -used herein to control and coordinate the action showing the attachment of this invention .bearings 21.

in elevation part tom of the baler.

Figure 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a guide bracket for of this device.

Figure 1l is an enlarged transverse section on line I I-I I of Figure 1.

Figure l2 is a bottom plan showing the arrangement of the pawl parts of the intermittently operating cam of this device.

Figure 13 is a top View of the ratchet used with the pawl of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a perspective detail of certain cam operated elements forming parts thereof.

the drawings, this invention is applied to an ordinary type of field traveling hay there is provided a frame I0 mounted on ground wheel-s and which frame constitutes the body of the baler with its surrounding walls. The baler picks up, fas it travels through the eld, the material to be baled at II and it is transferred by a transfer device, not shown in detail, I2, to a baling chamber I3. In this baling chamber reciprocates la plunger I4 which is the means for effecting compression of the material to be baled. Mounted on the frame I0 is a shaft I5 having a crank I6 disposed substantially central of its length and this crank is connected to the plunger I 4 by a pitman I'I so that at eacLh revolution of the shaft the plunger travels forwardly an-d backwardly in the chamber. In a gearing casing I8, the arrangement of which is not shown, is gearing connecting a shaft I9 with the shaft I5 and on the shaft I9 is mounted a flywlheel 20. On the shaft I9 is likewise mounted a sprocket 2I which is connected to a sprocket 22 by a` chain 23 so that as the shaft I5 revolves the sprocket 22 will be driven. The sprocket 22 is mounted on a shaft 24.

Considering now that one looks from the crankshaft toward the baling chamber, it is tov be understood that there is a. left side and a right side of the baler. 'Ilhe sprockets 2| and 22 and the chain 23 are thus on the right side of the baler.

Projecting from the right side of the baler are a lower bracket 25 and an upper bracket 25 which support a vertical shaft 2B in suitable On this shaft is fixed, near its upper end, a bevel gear 28, while on the shaft 24 is xed a beve1 gear 29 which meshes with the gear 28. Consequently the revolution of the shaft I5 causes revolution of the shaft 26.'

of the mechanism on the botperspective view of a certain one of the reciprocating parts At the left side of the baler there is a vertical shaft which is secured at 3l and 32 to upper and lower arms 33 and 34. At 35 there is shown a pair of arcuate needles having strand openings 35 at their extremities. These needles are fixed by clamps 35 to the shaft 30. The needles are fixed in such position that, as shown in Figure l, they will swing in one direction of movement across the baling chamber as the arms 33 and 34 are swung. These arms 33 and 34 are pivotally mounted at 31 on plates 38 extending transversely of the baler, the pivots 31 being centrally of the width of the baler. The free ends of the arms 33 and 35 are spring-seated at 34!a asshown in Figure l. From the upper arm. 33 a lateral arm 39 extends. Mounted on the upper end of the shaft 26 is a crank arm 40 which is normally 1 Y free on the shaft 26 and this crank arm is connected by a pitman 4l with the arm 39 so that upon revolution of the crank arm `lll the needles will' beA swung fromV the position shown in Figure l across the baling chamber (see Figure 2)' for one-half ofthe revolutionK of the crank'llD and then turned to the position shown in Figure l.

At'Z 'are'cans' containing balls of the strands or cords tov be' used andJ these cans are provided with outlets 43 at their tops wherethrough' strands M pass through the eyes of the needles 35. In passing from the cans l2A the strands are led through arms MB" havingy at their ends guides Mb, the arms being supported by a suitable bracket 140. Thus the operation of the curved needles causes such strands to pass across the baling chamber.

The operation of the needles must be eected intermittently and therefore must take place when thev plunger I4 has completed its compression stroke. To this end there is provided on the left sidev of the frame IU- a bracket 45 whereon is carried a rocker armv 4E; This rocker arm d'3 is operated by a' tappet pin 45 carried by a bracket 45a on the shaft l5*s when the plunger I4 completes its working stroke. The rocker armv 4EY is connected by a link 41' with an adjusting device 48 for the purpose of regulating the throw due to the' rocker` arm. This adjusting device terminatesin an offset 49 engaging in the crank arm 50 of a cross shaft 5l which extends entirely across the baler and terminates in a second` rockery arm 52'. The rocker armV 52A has connected thereto a link 531. A spring 54 normallyurges the rocker arm 52` against the action ofY the link K1'. On one of the brackets 25 is pivoted' one end of an arm 55-and midway of the length of this arm the link 53L is pivotally connected Keyed tothe top of theshaft 26- is av ratchet member' 56 havingv internal ratchet teeth 51. The crank arm 40, at its lower side, is provided with` a lateral lug 58 and pivoted to this lug is a. rocker 59 which carries a roller 50 adapted to engage at the spaces between the teeth 51 and thus constitutes a pawl. The inner end portion of the crank arm MHS of hollow cylindrical form and is notchedat oneside to provideA exit means for the' arm 6i' ofthe'rocker 59, and a spring 62 connects this end of the crank arm with the member 4U in such manner as to urge the roller 60 into pawl engagement with the ratchet whenever arm 6l is freed for. such movement. The arm is swingably mountedon the bracket 25 and moves byV the revolutionof the shaft l5-into and out of engagement with the arm 6l lso that wheninone position it will free said arm 5| and permit engagement of the roller with the l ratchet. The arm 55 is pivoted at 64 and on this same pivot there is a lower swingable arm E5 as best seen in Figure 11. The member B5 carries a pin cooperable with a pivoted latch 61 on a link 68. A pin 68 carried by the link 68 and a coil spring 68a cooperating with the pin 58', link 68 and latch S1, operates to maintain the latch 61 in operative position. This link connects with a crank E9 on a shaft 1U which supports a spur wheel 'Hv which projects into the side of the bale being formed and is driven by said bale. A bracket 12 is provided for guiding the link 68. The latch member 51 is provided witha-fmanuallyvoperable trip arm 13 cooperable y, with the crank arm d0. Both arms 55 and 65 are urged to normal position by springs 55' 'and 55.

`are in proper position the members 14 are tilted and grip the strandsM.

En Figures 8 and 9 isshown a safety mechanism for arresting movement of. the plunger 1:4 should the machine get out of. time. There. is provided a plunger pin 16 mounted on an arm "11 from which projects an arm. 13. Through the arm 18 extends a rod 19? carrying a stop 80:' between which and the spring 8i said arm T8 extends. This rod 19 is connected at 82 with the arm 3 above described. Thus,v the pin 1B is projected into the balingl chamber in timed relation with needle` movement,` as' a safety precaution to arrest the movement ot" the plunger is shouldthe needlesv 35 failto retract in time, Ydue to some mechanical failure.

In theoperation of the device as'the baler shaft revolves the plunger |14 moves to andi from and compresses the material to be baled.V It is, to be understood.- that there is already in the baling chamber al bound and tied. bale so that this bale forms thelabutment against which the next. bale is compressed. Now with each revolution. of the crank shaft of thev baler all. material receivedin the baling chamber is compressed. against the preceding bale and at the same time assuming that the baling` head or plunger. has. completed the compression the pawl andLratchet mechanism connects the constantly revolvingbaler shaftand the vertical shaft to the right of. the machine. This causes immediate swinging of the needles across the formed end ot the baleandwcarries the strands thereacross. These strands` are then gripped by the holding members while theneedles Yare quickly retracted. At this pointin thevoperationa suitable-tying device, not being necessary here to be described, but which is illustrated at T inFigure 2, comes into play and ties thestrands whilevat the same time cutting them, thus. leaving the bale in tightly bound condition ready ior the next action of the baling head orl plunger. The wheel 1i determines-the length of. th'erbales and operates the linkl 58 carrying. the latch 61, whereby thisA latch is4 at the proper time en- 'gagecl with the pin 56. Then, asmovement of the link 68 starts in the otherv direction (to the right in Figure 1'), the latch and pin coact to swing the lower member 65. from engagement with-the arm'l of the rocker 59'. At. this time, or shortly thereafter, the upper member 55 will be released by the 1ink 53 and associated elements (when the plunger I4 completes its stroke). Consequently, the spring 62 then acts to swing the rocker 59, engaging the roller 60 with the teeth 5l and starting the needle operating and bale tying cycle. When the required rotation of the crank arm 40 isabout completed, said crank arm engages the latch release arm 13, releasing the latch 61 from the pin 66 and freeing the arm 65 from connection with said links. This allows the spring 65' to return the arm 65 to normal position in the path of the arm 6| of the rocker 59. Consequently, this arm 6I will then strike the arm 65 and rock the rocker 59 to disengage the roller 60 from the teeth 51, stopping the cycle.

From the above detailed description of the invention, it is believed that the construction, operation, and use thereof will at once be apparent, and while there is herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed, is: l

l. The combination with a horizontal baling machine having a baling chamber, a crank shaft, a plunger head, and a pitman connecting the head with the crank of said shaft; of a bale wrapping and securing means including arcuate strand carrying needles carried by the baler at one side of said chamber and mounted for oscillatory movement across said chamber, operating means for said needles mounted on the opposite side of said chamber, said needle mounting including a vertical shaft and an arm having one end flxed to and extending laterally from the shaft and having its other end pivotally supported, said arm having a branch arm extending laterally from a point between its ends, said operating means including a second vertical shaft having a crank arm extending revolubly therefrom and a link connecting said crank arm and said branch arm, said crank arm having an arcuate flange extending concentric to said second vertical shaft and having opposed ends forming a gap, a ratchet consisting of a disk fixed on said second vertical shaft and provided with a peripheral flange fitting within the crank arm flange, said peripheral flange having its interior face provided with a continuous series of arcuate recesses, a bell-crank pawl lever pivoted Within the crank arm eccentric to the second vertical shaft, a roller on one end of the lever movable into and out of said recesses, the other arm of said bell-crank lever extending through said gap, and means controlled by the revolution of the ybaler crank shaft intermittently causing engagement of the pawl and ratchet.

2. The combination with a horizontal baling machine having a baling chamber, a crank shaft, a plunger head, and a pitman connecting the head with the crank of said shaft; of a bale wrapping and securing means including arcuate strand carrying needles carried by the baler at one side of said chamber and mounted for oscillatory movement across said chamber, operating means for said needles mounted on the opposite side of said chamber, said needle mounting including a vertical shaft and an arm having one end xed to and extending laterally from the shaft and having its other end pivotally supported, said arm having a branch arm extending laterally from a point between its ends, said operating means including a second vertical shaft having a crank arm extending revolubly therefrom and a link connecting said crank arm and said branch arm, gearing connecting said crank shaft and said last mentioned shaft, said crank arm having an arcuate flange extending concentric to said second vertical shaft and having opposed ends forming a gap, a ratchet consisting of a disk fixed on said second vertical shaft and provided with a peripheral flange fitting Within the crank arm flange, said peripheral flange having its interior face provided with a continuous series of arcuate recesses, a bell crank pawl lever pivoted within the crank arm eccentric to the second vertical shaft, a roller on one end of the lever movable into and out of said recesses, the other arm of said lbell crank lever extending through said gap, and means controlled by4 the revolution of the baler crank shaft intermittently causing engagement of the pawl and ratchet.

3. The combination with a horizontalrbaling machine having a baling chamber, a crank shaft, a plunger head, and a pitman connectingfthe head with the crank of said shaft; of a bale Wrapping and securing means including arcuate strand carrying needles carried by the baler at one side of said chamber and mounted lfor oscillatory movement across said chamber, operating means for said needles mounted on theopposite side of said chamber, said needle mounting including a vertical shaft and an arm having one end fixed to and extending laterally from the shaft and having its other end pivotally supported, said arm having a branch arm extending laterally from a point between its ends, said operating means including a second vertical shaft having a crank arm extending revolubly therefrom and a link connecting said crank arm and said fixed arm, a ratchet disk xed on the last mentioned shaft to revolve therewith, said crank arm having an arcuate flange extending concentric to said vertical shaft and having opposed ends forming a gap, a ratchet consisting of a disk fixed on said second vertical shaft and provided with a peripheral flange fitting within the crank arm flange, said peripheral flange having its interior face provided with a continuous series of arcuate recesses, a bell crank pawl lever pivoted Within the crank arm eccentric to the second vertical shaft, a roller on one end of the lever movable into and out of said recesses, the other arm of said bell crank lever extending through said gap, and means controlled by the revolution of the baler crank shaft intermittently causing engagement of the pawl and ratchet, and pawl disengaging means including a latching device, a bale sizing wheel carried by the baling machine, and a latch releasing member actuated from said Wheel.

4. The combination with a horizontal baling machine having a baling chamber, a crank shaft, a plunger head, and a pitman connecting the head with the crank of said shaft; of a baie Wrapping and securingmeans including arcuate strand carrying needles carried by the baler at one side of said chamber and mounted for oscillatory movement across said chamber, operating means for said needles mounted on the opposite side of said chamber, said needle mounting including a vertical shaft and an arm having one end fixed to and extending laterally from the shaft and having its other end pivotally supported, said arm having a branch arm extending laterally from a point between its ends, said operating means including a second vertical shaft lievi-nga crank arm lextending revolubly therefromV and fa link connecting said crank arm and -said fixed arm, gearing connecting said crank shaft and sa-i-d last mentioned shaft, said crank -arm having an arcuate flange extending concentric to said second vertical shaft and having opposed ends form-ing a gap, a ratchet consisting of-a Idisk fixed on said :second vertical shaft and provided with a peripheral flange fitting within the crank arm `flange, said peripheral flange having its interior face provided with a continuous series of varcuate recesses a bell crank pavvl lever pivoted yWithin the crank arm eccentric to the second vertical shaft a roller on one .end .of the lever movable into and out `of said recesses the "other arm-of said bell crank lever .extending through said gap, means controlled by the revolution of the baler crank shaft intermittently 'causing engagement of the pawl and ratchet, ,said

last means including a latching device normally c engaging the last mentioned arm of the bell crank lever, means for releasing the pawl from 'the action of the crank shaft including a `bale sizing Wheel carried by the baling machine, and

a latch releasing member actuated from said wheel.

' A5. The combination with a horizontal baling machine having a 'baling chamber, a crank shaft, a lplunger head, anda pitman connecting the headivith the crank ofsaid shaft; of a balle ivrap- 2 ping and securing means including arcuate strand Acarrying needles carried by the baler at one .side

of said chamber and mounted for oscillatoryT movement across said chamber, operating means for said needles mounted on the opposite side of Asaid chamber, said needle mounting including a vertical shaft and an arm having one end fixed `to andextending laterally from the shaft and having its other end pivotally supported, said arm having a branch ann extending laterally from a point between its ends, said operating 'means including a second vertical shaft having a crank arm extending revolubly therefrom and Va link connecting said crank arm and said xed arm, said crank arm having an arcuate flange extending concentric to said second vertical shaft and lfiaving'opposed ends forming a gap, a ratchet consisting of `a disk fixed on said second vertical shaft and provided With a peripheral flange f1tting Within the crank arm flange, said peripheral flange having its interior face provided with a continuous series of arcuate recesses, a bell crank pawi lever pivoted Within the crank arm eccentric to the second vertical shaft, a roller on one end of the lever movable into and out of said recesses, the other arm of said bell crank lever Vextending through said gap, means controlled by the revolution of the baler crank shaft intermittently causing engagement of the pawl and ratchet, said last means including a latching device normally engaging the last mentioned arm of the bell crank lever, means vfor releasing the pawl from the action of thecrank shaft including a bale sizing wheel carried by the baling machine, a latch releasing member actuated .from said Wheel, and manually operable means for releasing said latching device.

6. The combination with a horizontal baling machine having a baling chamber, a crank shaft, a `plunger head, and a pitman connecting the head with the crank of said shaft; of a bale wrapping and securing means including arcuate strand carrying needles carried by the baler at one side of said chamber and mounted for oscillatory movement across said chamber, operating means for said needles mounted on the opposite side of said chamber, said needle mounting including a vertical shaft and an arm having yone end fixed to and extending laterally from the shaft and having its other end pivotally .supported, said arm having a branch arm extending laterally from a .point between its ends, said operating means including a second vertical shaft having a crank arm extending revolubly therefrom and a link connecting said crank arm and said fixed arm, gearing connecting .said crank shaft and said last mentioned shaft,-said crank arm having an arcuate ange extending concentric to said second Vertical shaft and having opposed ends forming a gap, a ratchet consisting of a disk fixed on said second vertical shaft and provided with a peripheral flange fitting Within the crank arm flange, said peripheral flange having its interior face provided with a continuous series of arcuate recesses, a bell crank pawl lever pivoted Within the crank arm eccentric to the second vertical shaft, a roller on one end of the lever movable into and out of said recesses, the other arm of said bell crank lever extending through said gap, means controlled by the revolution of the baler crank shaft intermittently causing engagement of the pawl and ratchet, said last means including a latching device normally engaging the last mentioned arm of the bell crank lever, means for releasing the pavvl from the action of the crank shaft including a bale sizing wheel carried by the baling machine, a latch releasing member actuated from said Wheel, and manually operable means for releasing said latching device.

WILLIAM O. POPE.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 

